“When I joined the club I highlighted which people would be able to come across with me and who would suit Stoke City and then I also had to think about where I could add a specific skill set to move us forward,” Rowett said.

“It was a very easy decision in some ways in bringing Mark, Dave and Joe in straight away. I worked with Kev at Derby and felt he brought a great deal to the strikers and was really, really good at what he did.

“I also felt there was a gap where we wanted to do something a little bit different and that’s where Callum comes in. He has been a friend of mine for a long time, since we played together at Leicester, and whenever we speak we talk about football."

Davidson was part of Scotland’s backroom team under Gordon Strachan last year and Rowett added: “The fact that he was earmarked for involvement with the Scotland set-up speaks volumes and I spoke to a few people about his coaching ability and felt he would be a really interesting one to bring in and freshen things up.

“Rory will work predominately with the first team but because of his affinity with the club he will dip down to help with the development of the U23s and U18s.

"I think it’s a really good balance. All the guys we have brought in are first and foremost very good at their jobs but they are also passionate about bettering themselves.”

Assistant manager Kevin Summerfield has left Derby, but has not followed Rowett to Stoke. New Rams boss Frank Lampard is now set to make a raft of appointments to replace the staff who have left.

WHEREVER Roberto Martinez has been as a manager, he's had Richard Evans by his side. The Welshman tells us about a journey that has taken in promotions, an FA Cup final and the latter stages of a World Cup.